Turkish Data Protection Authority Fines TikTok
Turkey’s data protection authority, the Kişisel Verileri Koruma Kurumu (KVKK), fined TikTok 1.75 million Turkish Liras (~$91,000) this week for insufficiently protecting users from unlawful data processing, Reuters reports. The KVKK declared TikTok is “not taking all necessary measures to ensure the appropriate level of security to prevent unlawful processing of personal data.”
KVKK also noted that TikTok must update the texts of its privacy and cookies policies to meet Turkey's data protection regulations, Data Protection Law No. 6698. Turkey passed a data protection regulation in 2016, with the law holding many similarities to the EU's GDPR.
The fine comes during a torrent of worldwide governmental activity against TikTok, as many Western countries have banned the app on government devices and the United States weighs a full ban of the popular social media app. It will be key to watch how TikTok adjusts its data privacy practices to avoid future fines.
